Window-closing device



r H. I. HUEY.

WINDOW CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. ls, m9.

1,848,131. Patented July 27,1920.

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Ham/z 14 1267 attouuq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' HAROLD I. HUEY OF SAYLESVILLE, RHODE ISLAND.

WINDOW-CLOSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. -Patented July 27, 1920.

Application filed February 18, 1919. Serial No. 277,747.

Window-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to an automatic window-closing device, and hasfor its object to provide such a device which is adapted to be readilyapplied to and removed from a window and is for the purpose ofautomatically closing the window when an excessive amount of moisture isapplied to a moisture-affected element forming a part of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a standard to beattached to the window frame and provided with a mois ture-affectedelement adapted to lie upon the window sill in position to be mostquickly affected by moisture which would enter the room.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring on theclosing device for closing the window when released by themoisture-affected element.

With these and other objects in view, the Y invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1- is an elevation showing the device as applied to a window.

Fig. 2- 1s a plan view of the folding wing member of the device,'showing the moisture-affected element mounted thereon.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the device in folded position.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the standard member of mydevice which is adapted to be attached either permanently or temporarilyby screws or other means to the casing of an ordinary window. Thisstandard is member 11 hinged at 12 to its lower end and adapted to beswung down to lie upon the window sill 13. In this standard I haveformed a recess 14: in which is mounted a latch 15 pivoted at 16. Oneend of this latch is adapted to extend out beyond the edge of thestandard suiiiciently to engage the under edge of the window 17 to holdthe same ii-ope p s ion. he-inn n of rovided with a foldable wingthislatch is engaged by a tripper 18 pivoted at 19 in the standard. Thistripper is provided with a downwardly extending arm 20 to which a cordor wire 21 is connected, the same leading down along the standard andover the small pulley 22 at the lower end thereof and is attached to oneend of the moisture-affected element 23. This moisture affected elementmay be formed of any suitable material but I preferably construct thesame of a narrow strip of fabric which has been chemically treated sothat when moisture is applied thereto instead of contracting as is usualwith fabrics it will expand toa considerable degree or sufiiciently toactuate the tripper to release the latch and window.

One end 24 of this element is attached to the loop 25 in the wing memberwhile the other end is provided. with an eye 26 to which the wire 21 isconnected. The ends of this element are temporarily fastened in positionso that the element itself may be removed and replaced when it isdesired to renew the same, or its length may be shortened or adjusted tosuit the conditions under which it is to be operated.

As this wing member is hinged to the standard it is adapted to be turnedup when not in use into the position illustrated in Fig. 3 where it maybe locked by the bail 27.

In some cases where a window is weighted and balanced it is founddesirable to prO- vide means for acting upon the sash to close thewindow when released by the latch. Therefore to accomplish this in asimple and effective way, I have provided a coil tension spring 29 whichis mounted in the groove 30 in the upper end of the standard.

One end of the spring is attached at 31 to the standard while the otherend 32 is connected by means of the pin 33 to the window whereby whenthe latch is caused to release the window this spring draws the samedown to closed position.

In applying my device to a window it is only necessary to attach thestandard to the casing by means of screws or otherwise and then let downthe wing member to rest upon the window sill, thereby positioning themoisture-affected element where it will receive the moisture first suchas rain which enters the window. pands sufliciently to permit theupperend of the tripper member to rise and release the latch, the outer endof which then swings- This element then exdownwardly and permits thewindow, under tension of its spring to be moved to closed position.

Another feature of this moisture-affected element is that as soon as thesame is dry it contracts again to normal and, therefore, may be usedover and over again. This is a. great improvement over other deviceswhere-- in the moisture-affected element is destroyed upon operating,which necessitates its being replaced each time with a new one.

The device is extremely simple and inexpensive in its'construction andeffective in its action and by its use damage may be ef-' fectuallyprevented, by ,the closing of the window when rain is about to enter theroom.

Another element 34 of readily, fusible material may be interposed intothe length of wire 21 whereby when a fire occurs the heat acting uponthis readily fusible element will effect the closing of the window,which is an element of safety to prevent the spread of fire.

My invention is not restricted to the precise arrangement of parts shownand described as the details of construction may'be modified andrearranged without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scopeof which is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: g

1. A window-closing device comprising a standard adapted to be securedto a window frame, means on said standard for supporting a window inopen position, a non-rupturable control member capable of extendingitslength by hygroscopic action and returning to normal length when dry,and means whereby the elongation of said control member causes saidsupporting member to release the window to move to closed position.

. 2. A window-closing device comprising a standard adapted to be securedto a window casing, a latch in said standard for supporting the windowin open position, a tripper for supporting the latch and a strip ofnonrupturable moisture-affected material arranged to retain the tripperand latch. in supporting position when dry and adapted to change itslength by action of moisture thereon to trip the latch to release thewindow, said strip automatically returning to normal length when dried.

3. A window-closing device comprisi v a standard adapted to'be securedto a win ow casing and having a non-rupturable member adapted to lielongitudinally alongthe window sill, a latch in said standard forreleasably supporting the window in open position, and a strip ofmoisture-affected material mounted on said member and connected tosaidlatch whereby the action of moisture upon said strip causes it topermit said latch to release the window to close, said stripautomatically returning to normal length when dried.

4:. A window-closing device comprising a standard adapted tobe securedto a Window frame, a foldable wing member adapted to be swung down tolie upon the window sill, means in the standard for releasablysupporting the window sash in open position,

and a moisture affected element carried by said wing member adapted tobe temporarily elongated, and means whereby the expanding of saidelement is caused to release the sash to move to closed position.

5. A window-closing device comprising a standard adapted to be securedto a window frame, a foldable wing member adapted to be swung down tolie upon the window sill, means in the standard for releasablysupporting the window sash in open position, a moisture-affected elementcarried by said wing .member adapted to be temporarily elongated, meanswhereby the expanding of said element is caused to release the sash tomove to closed position, and a'spring acting upon the sash to move it toclosed position when released by its supporting means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HAROLD I. HUEY.

